Midwifery

In year 1 you study three modules. Together these help you to develop basic professional values, clinical skills and woman-centred midwifery care in the antenatal and postnatal periods, as well as knowledge of biology, sociology and psychology and study and research skills. There is a greater balance of theory to practice in this year and a mixture of community and hospital placements.

In year 2 you study three midwifery theory and practice modules, where midwifery theory expands to include the care of women in the inter-partum period and more complex childbearing in a range of physical, psychological/emotional and social contexts. You undertake a one-week exposure to adult nursing in high dependency environments and develop your critical skills by reflecting on the maternity services and aspects of care delivery. There is an equal split between theory and practice. This year is hospital based.

In year 3 there is a greater balance of practice to theory in two midwifery theory and practice modules. You hone your skills in higher risk emergency care and take greater responsibility in a final community placement, where you care for a small caseload of women under indirect supervision. You write a 10,000 word dissertation, addressing a specific midwifery-related question in depth and study one 10-credit optional module from a range available. There is also an opportunity for a two-week elective experience at home or abroad.

Clinical placements are an integral part of your training. Read "Study abroad and work placements" tab.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Biological Knowledge for Practice 30 credits
• Learning Together; Working Together 30 credits
• Fundamentals of Midwifery Practice 60 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Midwifery Theory and Practice 1 40 credits
• Midwifery Theory and Practice 2 40 credits
• Midwifery Theory and Practice 3 40 credits

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Research Dissertation 30 credits
• Preparing for Midwifery Practice 40 credits
• Becoming a Midwife 40 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Midwifery BSc in the course catalogue

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. On this course you broaden your learning through core and/or optional modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

School of Healthcare courses are designed to allow you as much choice as possible in the way that you study and methods of training are highly participative, with a combination of tutor-led input and support, learning through group work and discussion, and individual exercises and practice.

The School works closely with health and social care organisations, to make sure that it provides education and training which fully meets the changing needs of health and social care and develops the appropriate knowledge and skills enabling our students to play key roles in the workplace.

The School has a large clinical skills area and a dedicated midwifery skills area, with a range of electronic and physical teaching aids.

The modules on this course have been designed to integrate research-led teaching, ethics and key midwifery themes. Part of the content will be through the medium of inquiry-based learning, where you study alongside other healthcare professionals, such as nursing, social work and medical students.

Assessment

The majority of modules contain midwifery theory and practice in which 40% of the module mark is the grade achieved in practice. This contributes to the overall degree classification.

We use a range of assessment methods, including presentations, group assessments, unseen examinations, OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations), along with essays, a final oral examination and the grading of clinical practice.

You’ll need to demonstrate the knowledge and application of standard concepts, information and techniques, as well as your emerging abilities, skills and competencies.

You’ll need to produce work that is typically both evaluative and creative and show you can conduct independent, in-depth enquiry within the discipline. You need to be able to draw on a wide variety of material and be able to evaluate and criticise received opinion.